5 Tips to Improve Your Surfing Skills

1. Watch Others Surf

Like any other sport, you can learn a lot by watching professional athletes perform their craft. Research surf films and video clips online of your favorite professional surfers. Studying the pros will help you nail your technique and ultimately improve your muscle memory. Aside from video segments, you can also learn a lot from watching other surfers out in the lineup. According to swell.com, “often times local rippers can surf your home break better than anyone else and they will know about the subtle nuances that they can’t always teach you in surf school.“

2. Go For a Swim

90% of surfing is paddling. Any good surfer must also be an excellent paddler. Swimming is one of the easiest, most effective ways to improve paddling. Swimming will strengthen your arms, make you more confident in the water, and increase your overall stamina during sessions.

3. Skateboard

Surfing and skateboarding are both based on the same fundamentals: balance and motion. Skateboarding can be one of the easiest ways to improve your surfing. “Skating regularly will strengthen your legs, smooth out your style,” says swell.com. Plus, even if the waves are dead you can always keep practicing!

4. Stretch Properly and Stay Limber

If you can’t move well, you sure can’t surf well. As a surfer, dynamic flexibility and ease of movement are important to not only surf with some style, but to stay injury free as well. For this reason it is always recommended to stretch before going out in the water. For some warm up ideas visit How to Properly Warm Up Before Surfing.

5. Take a Surf Lesson

Taking a surf lesson is a great way to improve your surfing and feel more comfortable in the water. Beginners will quickly learn some of the fundamentals that are usually learned only through experience and time. Surf lessons also help you avoid beginner surfing mistakes that new surfers might not have thought about.